Dewars Music School pitches in

A BENDIGO music business has thrown its support behind suicide awareness.

A BENDIGO music business has thrown its support behind suicide awareness.

Dewar’s Music School in Queen Street will donate audio equipment for Bendigo’s second annual Suicide Awareness Walk on March 24.

Music school co-owner Suzie Dewar said the business didn’t hesitate when approached by the Suicide Prevention Awareness Network central Victoria group to support the walk.

“Suicide awareness isn’t pushed enough,” she said.

“We feel it is very important, especially when dealing with teenagers who come into the school every day and who have issues.

“We know that they need people to talk to someone when they have problems.”

Mrs Dewar said she had friends who had lost loved ones to suicide and the issue was important to her personally.

The Suicide Awareness Walk is designed to allow those touched by suicide to remember loved ones, friends, school peers and work colleagues, and to raise awareness of suicide in the community.

About 500 people attended the inaugural walk in March last year.

The 2013 walk will start from the Dai Gum San Chinese precinct at 11am on March 24.

A formal ceremony featuring guest speakers from beyondblue and national suicide bereavement support program StandBy will follow the walk.

A free sausage sizzle and performances by Castlemaine Pipe Band and local musicians led by Mez Whittle, will also highlight the day. SPAN group spokeswoman Alannah McGregor thanked Dewar’s Music School for supporting the walk.

She said any businesses wanting to support the walk could call her on 0408 541 082 or Haylee Kennedy on 0418 648 233.

The Bendigo Advertiser will continue to publish updates on the Suicide Awareness Walk in the printed edition and on it website www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au